Several years ago a woman in her mid 40’s came for a consultation in contemplation of a photo shoot, which is how we like to begin the process. Seems like you wouldn’t, perhaps shouldn’t, show up for a nude photo shoot without first determining you feel safe & comfortable with the photographer/s. She’d brought a female friend to the consultation for moral support. As is usually the case, she booked a photo shoot for a few weeks out and showed up for the shoot, on time, by herself.

As you might expect, most people come in a bit nervous never having done anything like this before and not sure what they are most nervous about; being naked in front of someone they don’t know or more fearful they aren’t going to look any good. Five minutes into the shoot, the nervousness faded and two hours later she was walking a lot taller, with more confidence, and the knowledge that she was indeed beautiful in her own body. We set an appointment for her to come back to look at the proof sheets, hugged her good-bye at the door saying we’d see her next week.

Darrell looked out the window about 10 minutes later and commented that he thought she was still parked out front and was concerned that perhaps she was having car trouble. Before he could get out to inquire and check on her, she drove away. The following week, Darrell asked if she had some car problems after her photo shoot. This is how she explained the delay in leaving; “I’m a very successful and confident business woman. However, as you probably noted, my friend who was with me for the consultation, is an exceptionally beautiful woman. She and I have been best friends for more than 20 years and when I got to my car it hit me that this was the very first time that I felt like the beautiful one. It was just such an unexpected and emotional revelation that I sat outside in my car crying for a while and processing the experience. It’s not a big deal really.”